M. A. R. Barker

Muhammad Abd-al-Rahman Barker (born Phillip Barker, November 3, 1929 – March 16, 2012), was a professor of Urdu and South Asian Studies who created one of the first roleplaying games, Empire of the Petal Throne, and wrote several fantasy/science fantasy novels based in his associated world setting of Tékumel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._A._R._Barker